Attorneys Must Now Disclose Criminal Activity 20 Days Following A Conviction

(Harrisburg, Pa.) – The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania has amended a rule (Rule 214), requiring attorneys to disclose if
they have been convicted of a crime sooner than the original guidelines
determined.

Rule 214 of the
Pennsylvania Rules of Disciplinary Enforcement establishes the disciplinary
procedure when an attorney practicing in PA has been convicted of a crime.
Under the original guidelines, an attorney did not have to report a criminal conviction
until the attorney was actually sentenced for the crime. Sentencing proceedings
may be postponed or delayed for months or longer after an attorney has admitted
or been found guilty of a crime. The rule change now requires a report be made to
the Secretary of the Board within 20 days of the attorney’s guilty or no
contest plea, or on verdict of guilt by judge or jury, rather than after the
sentencing. The Disciplinary Board concluded there was no legal reason to delay
proceedings regardless of whether or not the attorney had been sentenced.

This amended rule
also recognizes that some crimes are so outrageous that they require speedy
action to suspend the attorney’s license. A main driving factor for this rule
change is not only to preserve the integrity of the Court and the profession,
but also to protect the public and the clients the convicted attorney serves. Now,
the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will not have to wait until criminal court
sentencing to temporarily suspend an attorney who has committed criminal
conduct.

Failure to report
the criminal conviction within the 20 day period will constitute a separate,
independent violation of the Rules of Disciplinary Enforcement. The
Disciplinary Board’s goals are to protect the public, maintain the integrity of
the legal profession, and to safeguard the reputation of the courts.

For more information
regarding this rule, please visit the Pennsylvania Rule of Disciplinary
Enforcement at www.padisciplinaryboard.org.

About the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of PA

The Disciplinary Board is an
independent agency funded by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and consists of
13 members, of whom 11 are attorneys and two are non-lawyers, from across the
state. The Disciplinary Board was created by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
to review conduct and assure compliance by all attorneys to the Pennsylvania
Rules of Professional Conduct. For more information about the Disciplinary
Board, please visit www.padb.us.

For more information regarding this
press release, please contact Megan Kurtz at 717-432-2468 or email at Megan@TheSuasionWay.com.